Prayer Bells

 

Prayer Bells

There is not now any requirement for churches to apply the use of ringing bells in association with services. However, the bible clearly encourage the faithful Christians to “make a joyful noise” (Psalms 98:4) “Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all the earth: make a loud noise, and rejoice, and sing praise.”

Some 500 years after the cross, Christian churches have been ringing bells for opening services and spiritual worship and praise. It calls their attention to God’s presence in their daily lives. The ringing gave them joy.

Bells are first mentioned in the Bible in the description of the high priest’s robe. Moses gave God’s instructions that “bells of gold” were to be attached to the hem of the high priest’s robe. (Exodus 28:33-34) “And beneath upon the hem of it thou shalt make pomegranates of blue, and of purple, and of scarlet, round about the hem thereof; and bells of gold between them round about: (34) A golden bell and a pomegranate, a golden bell and a pomegranate, upon the hem of the robe round about.”

The “Holy of Holies” was the most sacred space in the old testament tabernacle and temple. Biblical law allowed only the high priest to enter the Holy of Holies and only one time a year, on the Day of Atonement, to make offerings to atone for the sins of God’s people. If the high priest did not precisely follow biblical law in how he purified himself, dressed, and acted in relation to his duties within the Holy of Holies, God would strike him dead (see preparations in Leviticus 16).

No one except the High Priest could enter the Holy of Holies A trpractice began that the high priest wore a rope around his foot or waist in case he were to die while in the Holy of Holies because he went in unprepared. In such an instance, the people outside the Holy of Holies would be alerted to the high priest’s death upon noticing that the bells of his hem had stopped jingling. The deceased high priest would then be pulled out of the holy space by the rope tied around his foot or waist.

An old hymn “Prayer Bells of Heaven” gives great relief to those believers who need rejoicing and uplifting; in part:

“While we are living in this world of care, Many the burdens we have to bear; But there’s a prayer bell at the Lord’s right hand, Give it a ring and he will understand.

(Chor.) “Prayer bells of heaven oh how sweetly they ring...Bearing our message up to Jesus the King;...When you are burden down with trouble and care,...Ring on and on for God will answer your prayer.”

Know God know peace. Amen. 03/19/21 BL